SIHH 2014: IWC Aquatimer Deep Three (IW355701)

Although I’ve already showed you several of the new IWC Aquatimers, we haven’t yet look at the Deep Three…and here it is. The Deep Three follows in the footsteps of the GST Deep One (1999) and the Aquatimer Deep Two (IW3457) (2009) as the third generation of IWC’s mechanical depth gauge diver’s watch (pictures below). Like the internal/external bezel system (“IWC SafeDive”) which I discuss here, the depth gauge on the Deep Three has been further developed and improved vs. prior iterations. During a dive, the blue depth indicator moves to show current dive depth, while the red maximum depth indicator remains at the maximum depth attained, down to a maximum of 50 meters.

The case is made of titanium (as does the Deep One; the Deep Two has a steel case) with dimensions of 46mm x 16.5mm.

The pressure metering system of the further-developed depth gauge mechanism is housed in a pressure converter on the left-hand side of the case. Through minuscule holes in the cover of the pressure converter, water pressure acts on a spring membrane and pushes a shaft towards the interior of the case. This movement is transmitted through a system of levers and moves the gauge’s two indicators at the centre of the watch. While the blue depth indicator moves to show current dive depth, the red maximum depth indicator remains at the maximum depth attained in the course of the dive, prevented by a pawl from returning to its original position. The maximum depth indicator can be reset to zero by pressing a push-button next to the pressure converter.